Method and apparatus for deriving mechanical power from tides and waves



J. C. P. POOL.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVING MECHANICAL POWER FROM TIDES AND WAVES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 5. 1920.

Patented May 3, 1921.

UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

- JAMES C. P. POOL,

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ALICE LAWRENCE POOL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. 7

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVING MECHANICAL POWER FROM TIDES AND WAVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed October 5, 1920. Serial No. 414,809.

' T all ivlzom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. P. POOL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Derivin Mechanical Power from Tides and WVaves, of which the following is a specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to the method and apparatus for deriving mechanical power from tides and waves.

More particularly my invention relates to confining a liquid in a hermetically sealed buoyant chamber and restricting the flow of the liquid from one end of the sealed chamber to another, making said liquid, as it flows from one part of the chamber to the other, generate power. This power may be electrical, hydraulic, hydro-electrical, spring or other power.

More particularly my invention relates to confining a liquid. in a hermetically sealed chamber in which is mounted a fixed piston having one or more orifices or passages whereby the liquid has to pass from one side to the other of the fixed piston, as the movable buoyant cylinder is raised and lowered by the waves or tides.

More particularly my invention covers one or more turbines carried by the fixed piston which are operated by the passage of the liquid through the fixed piston. Preferably I also employ a dynamo mounted on the same shaft as the turbine so that the power of the liquid in the chamber operating the turbine will generate an electric current which can be led from the apparatus directly towhere it is desired to use the current, or it may be first led to any suitable storage battery.

My invention, further relates to certain methods, apparatus, combinations, and details of construction which will be more fully hereinafter described in the specification and set forth in the claims.

The drawing is more or less diagrammatic and shows one form of my apparatus in vertical section.

In the particular form of my invention shown inthe drawing, by way of example,

1 is an anchor of concrete or other suitable the fixed piston or guide rod I mount a movable cylinder 3 which is made buoyant in any suitable manner, such as by having the pontoon l secured to it. Within this movable cylinder 3 I insert any suitable liquid 5, through the cock 6 which is thenclosed. Vltlllll the movable cylinder 3 and secured fast to the fixed piston or guide rod 2 is a fixed piston 16. This piston snugly fits the inside of the movable cylinder 3 and is provided with one or more orifices or openmgs 7, 7.

In-operation my apparatus is sunk in the water 8 until the anchor 1 rests upon the bottom of the ocean, bay or river where it is desired to use my invention. As the waves or tide raise and lower the pontoon 4, with its movable cylinder 3, the liquid 5- within the movable cylinder is forced through the openings or orifices 7, 7, within the fixed piston 16. In the drawings the movable cylinder is shown in one extreme position resting upon the anchor 1. When a wave or a tide lifts the pontoon 4 with its movable cylinder 3, the liquid which is shown below the fixed piston 16 will be forced though the orifices 7, 7, until all, or a majorlty of it, is above the piston, the cylinder and pontoon thenbeing approximately in the dotted position shown in the drawing. This will cause the liquid rushing through the orifices to impinge upon the buckets or vanes of the turbine 10.

This hydraulic power may be .used in various ways. It may be caused to operate a spring, or lift a weight, which stored up energy may later be utilized. Preferably, however, I cause the liquid to operate the turbines 10, which in turn 0 erate a dynamo 11, shown in dotted lines in the drawing. The turbine and the armature of the dynamo are preferably mounted upon the same axle 12. The current generated is led off by the wires 13, 13, which pass through the hollow piston or guide rod 2 to any suitable motor, storage battery, or line where it may be desired to use the power generated.

It will be noted thatby my invention the one turbine will be actuated by the liquid in the container, both as the li uid passes above the fixed piston, and then ater passes beneath the fixed piston as the pontoon rises Instead of using one turbine and one dynamo I may use two or more as shown in the drawing.

Having thus described this invention in connection with illustrative embodiments thereof, to the details of which I do not desire to be limited, what is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In an apparatus for deriving mechanical power from suitable actuating pressure the combination of a fixed piston having one or more openings, a movable cylinder surrounding the fixed piston, liquid in the cylinder and means carried by the fixed piston to generate power as the liquid in the cylinder is forced through one or more openings in the fixed piston as the movable cylinder is actuated.

2. In an apparatus for deriving mechanical power from'tides and waves the combination of a fixed piston having one or more openings mounted in a buoyant cylinder raised and lowered by the waves and tides, liquid in the cylinder, and means carried by the fixed piston to generate power as the liquid in the cylinder is forced through one or more openings in the fixed piston.

emma 3. in an apparatus for deriving mechanical power from tides and waves, the combination of a fixed piston having one or more openings, one or more turbines mounted on the fixed piston adapted to cooperate with said openings, said fixed piston and turbines being mounted in a closed buoyant cylinder, a closed buoyant cylinder raised and lowered by the waves and tides,

liquid in said cylinder and means to store up the power generated by said turbines.

4. In an apparatus for deriving mechanical power from tides and waves the combination of an anchor or base, a piston or guide rod secured to said anchor, a fixed immovable piston secured to the piston or guide rod, said piston being mounted within a buoyant movable cylinder, a movable buoyant cylinder guided on said piston or guide rod, liquid in said cylinder, said fixed piston being provided with an orifice for the passage of the liquid in the cylinder, and means to derive mechanical power from the liquid as it passes on either side of the fixed piston.

JAMES C. P. POOL. Witnesses:

GLADYS VAN LOAN, ALAN M. JoHNsoN. 

